Clothes-pressing machine.



F. S. SPARKS.

CLOTHES PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm) APR. 28. I913.

Patented Oct. 30,1917.

2 SHEETSa-SHEET I.

wi tmeowo F, s. SPARKS.' I CLOTHES PRESSI NG MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED APR. 28. I913.

1,244,653. Patented 0015.30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

un human Q 7 10 all cohom it mag concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK s. SPARKS, 0: srn mermnn, onro, ASSIGNOR or 'oNE-rHmn-mo FRANK L.

I WALKER, or narrow, OHIO. 1

I oro'rnus-ranssme macnnvn.

Be it known that I, FRANK S. SPARKS, citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State .of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-PressingMachines, of which the following 'is a specification. H s

My invention relates to ironing machines and particularly to clothespressing machines, of that type in which a volume of livesteam'isdischarged upon and through the articles operated'upon, which aresimultaneously subjected to pressure. I I

- The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well asthemeans and mode of operation of such machines, whereby they will not onlybe ch'eapenedin construction, but will be more efficient in use, easy ofoperation, and unlikely to get out .of repair.

Such machines as usually constructed embody a presser head adapted to bedrawn down upon the article operated upon, after which a valve isoperated to discharge the live steam upon and through said article.

There is commonly employed with each machine a suitable boiler usuallyof the flash or quick generating type. The machines are necessarily veryextravagantain their use of steam, requiringfrequent replenishing of thewater supply within the boiler. The Water is usually supplied to theboiler by a hand operated pump. It 1 s necessaryfor the operator toleave hlS posltion in front of the machine at frequent intervals, inorder to replenish the boiler.

Should he neglect to do this there is grave danger of the supply ofwater within the boiler becoming exhausted, permitting the boiler headand fiues to become overheated, thereby burning or otherwise damagingsuch parts and upon the subsequent introduction of water, causing.anexplosion of the boiler.

A, further'object of the invention is to rovide means for insuringthesafety of'the Boiler and speed of operation of the machine, by supplyingtothe boiler at each operation a quantity of water substantiallyequivalent to the volume .of steam dis-- charged, such supply of waterbeing automatically controlled by the operation of the machine,obviating-any necessity of the .operator interrupting his work in orderto I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 764,123.

'. riall pr uction of steam as does a large quan Patented 0a. 30, 191 7.

give his attention to the boiler. Furthermore the admission of water insmall quantitles at frequent intervals does not matelower thetemperature or arrest the tity of water, and obviates extremes of eX-pansionand contraction, thereby prolonging'the life of the boiler.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view 'as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists ofthefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and themode of operation of their equivalents, as hereinafter described andsetforth in the claims. I Referring to the drawings Figure l is a sideelevation of the assembled machine to which the invention, forming thesubject matter hereof, has been applied. F ig. 2"is a rear elevation ofthe assembled machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional vview ofthe watersupply pump. Fig. 4 isa detail sectional view of the oscillatoryconnection of the gas supplyconduit.

Like parts areindicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views. I 7

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a main frame or pedestal upon which issupported a deck or table 2. Projecting upward from the table 2 is apressing pad or buck 3, upon which is placed the work to be operatedupon. Pivotally supported upon arms4 projecting above the table ordeck'2, is an oscillatory head comprising two curved arms 5, carrying apresser head 6, adapted upon oscillation of the arms 5 to register withand bear upon the buck 3. As usually constructed the head 6 is hollow,forming ,a live steam chamber, to Whichsteam is conducted from a boiler7; I I I The livesteam leaves the boiler 7 through the conduit 8, thencethrough a separatoror purifier 9 from which it passes through theconduit 10, to a chamber 11, mounted concentric with the'pi votalconnection of the arms 5. A conduit 12 is pivotally connected with thechamber 11 through a "suitable chamberwithin the head 6 by theoperationof "the-valve 15 and passes thence through the porous face of the steamchamber toithe article operated upon, which is positioned upon the buck.r y The curved arms 5 are joined one to the other and extended rearwardin the single arm '16. A retracting spring 17 is attached atone end tothe main frame or pedestal 1 and at its opposite end to the rearwardextending arm 16. This retracting spring 17 is adapted to normallyelevate'the-presser head 6, by oscillating said head upward about itspivotal connections with the arms 4. t The head 6 is pulled downwardagainst the tension of the spring 17 by means of a handle or grip 18,until a detent or latch 19 carried by the rearward arm 16, engages ashoulder 20 in a vertical reciprocatory bar 21. The bar 21 is connectedat its lower end wit'ha foot lever 22. After'the head has been drawndownward vby means of the handle or grip 18, until the porous face-of.

the head is in contact with the goods to be operated upon at which'timethe latch or detent 19 has engaged the shoulder 20 of the bar 21,pressure is applied to the foot lever 22 tending to cause an upwardmovement of the bar 21, which will effect a' further 'depression of thehead 6, causing it to bear with great pressure upon the work.

While the work is under pressure the valve 15 is operated [to dischargelive steam through the chamber of the head 6, and thence upon the work.The detent 19 is then disengaged from the shoulder 20 of thebar 21 bymeans of a trip rod 23, carrying at its forward end a finger pull 24.

As thus far described the construction is of a common form now ingeneral use, and forms no part of the; present invention. Such a machineis shown in detail-in patent to A. J. Hoffman, N 0. 928,199, July 13,1909. As now constructed it is necessary forthe operator to leave hisposition. in the front of the machine at frequent intervals to replenishthe supply of water within the boiler 7.

To maintain the supply of water within the boiler7 at a constant level,regardless of the rapidity with which the machine .may be ordinarilyoperated, there is provided in the lower portlon of the main frame 1 asupply pump comprising a cylinder 25 witha in which reciprocates apiston 26. The cylinder 25 is securely supportedin a suitable bracket27, while the piston 26 is'provided with a suitable bearing in theupper'portion ,of the main frame 1.

shaped notch or recess 29 therein. A 30 carried upon the rearwardextending arm At its upper end the iston 26 is pivotally I a C studconnected with a flat ar 28, havin 16 of the head, engages within the Cshaped recess 29 of the bar 28 as shown in Fig. 1. It is obvious that asuitable slot may be employed in lieu of the C shaped recess.Howeversthe lateral opening in the recess is provided, in order that thebar 28 may be engaged with or disengaged from the stud 30 at will. Aflat spring 31 carried by the plunger 26 and bearing upon the side ofthe bar 28 tends to prevent the accidental disengagementof the bar andthe stud.

The pump cylinder 25 is connected through a conduit 32 with a suitablereservoir 33 or other water supply. 'A conduit 34 leads from the pumpcylinder 25 to the boiler. The pump may be of any suitable or desirableconstruction. However in the drawings the pump cylinder has been shownwith atapered or conical seat 35 immediately above and concentric withthe inlet orifice 36 from the supply conduit 32. Normally resting onthis inclined or tapered seat 35 is a ball valve 37 adapted to close theorifice 36. Two or more pointed studs 38 extend within the cylinder 35above the ball valve 37 and limit its upward movement, but permitsuflicient movement to open the inlet orifice 36 to admit a supply ofwater. 7

At itsupper extremity the cylinder 25 is provided w1th an internalrabbet or annular recess 39, in which is located a band of packingmaterial 40.'- Resting upon the packingmaterial 40, within the recess39, surrounding the piston 26, is a sleeve 41, free to movelongitudinally under the influence of a compression cap 42, screwthreaded upon the exterior of the cylinder25.-

At each oscillation of the head 6 downward upon the work the pump piston26 is elevated to draw a charge of water into the cylinder 25 through.the inlet orifice 36. Upon the return movement or elevation of the head6, the pump piston 26 is depressed to discharge the water from thecylinder 25, through the conduit 34 to the boiler 7. A check valve 43 isprovided in the conduit 34 to prevent the return flow of the water fromthe boiler.

By the slotted connection 29 the initial movement of the head 6 ineither direction is independent of'the pump piston 26. That is upon theoscillation of the head 6 in either direction, the stud 30 upon the arm16' willtravel throughout the length of the slot or recess 29 before itbegins'to reciprocate the piston 26. This independent initial movementof the head gives to the head momentum sufiicient to overcome theinertia of the pump piston, thereby requir- The capacity of the Watersupply pump is so proportioned that the chargeof water sup lied to theboiler .7 at each oscillation of t e head 6 will approximatelycompensate for the quantity of steam discharged upon each operation ofthehead. It as been found in actual'practice' that after a full day ofcontinual operation the water level within the boiler has been variedbut very slightly. Inasmuch as the water supply. to the boiler requiresno attention by the operator it has been found that the 're- 'sults-accomplishedby the operator has been very materially increased.Furthermore the use of this device entirely obviates any danger of theboiler being burnedor becoming overheated, whereby an explosion mayoccur by the introduction of cold Water. The operator is enabled to givehis full and continuous attention to the work in hand and to dismiss thecare of the boiler from his mind.

To obviate the possible leakage of gas there is provided upon one of thesupporting arms 4 concentric with the pivotal connection of the head, achamber or housing 52, to which leads a gas supply conduit 53. Thishousing 52 is provided with a longitudinal bore 54, in axial alinementwith the pivotal connection of the head, terminating in a tapered seat56 and intersected by a lateral bore 55 with which-the supply conduit 53communicates. The .chamber or housing thus formed becomes substantiallyan elbow connection between the supply conduit 53 and the gas conduit 61hereafter mentioned. Projecting within the longitudinal bore 54, is ahollow trunnion 57, having a tapered or conical head 58 conforming tothe tapered seat 56 upon which it rests. A body of packing material 59is provided about the hollow trunnion 57, adjacent to the head 58, uponwhich bears the usual packing gland 60. The tapered head 58 and thecorresponding seat 56 are ground to a close fit one with the other. Theconstruction is such that the hollow trunnion 57 may be oscillatedwithin the housing 52, without the leakageof gas between the head 58 andthe seat 56. Leading from the hollow trunnion 57 is a gas conduit 61,extending to the gas burner before mentioned upon the head 6. This gasconduit 61 is constructed of pipe or metallic tubing throughout andoscillates in unison with the head 6. This construction provides aconduit which always will be safe against leakage of the gas.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character, described, possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but WhlChobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detailconstruction'or arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages. I

While in order to comply with the statutes, the invention has beendescribed i in language more or less specific as tocertain structuralfeatures it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to anyspecific details, but that the means and construction herein describedcomprise but one mode ofputtingthe invention-into effect, and theinvention is therefore claimed broadly and inflany of its possible formsor modifications within the scope of the 'appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim, Y I

1. The combination of clothes pressing machine, a boiler from whichsteam is supplied to the pressing machine, a pump su plying water to theboiler, and an actuating connection between the pump and pressingmachine by which the pump is operated by the operation of said machine.

2. The combination of a clothes pressing machine, a boiler from whichsteam is-supplied to the clothes pressing machine, a water supply devicefor supplying water to theboiler, an actuating connection between thepressing machine and the water supply device for automaticallyregulating the supply of water by the operation of the pressing machine.

3. The combination of a clothes pressing machine, a boiler supplyingsteam to the pressing machine a water supply device sup-- plying waterto the boiler, and an actuating connection between the water supplydevice and the I ressing machine by which the said device Wlll beautomatically operated to sup ply water to the boiler at eachoperation'of the pressing machine.

4. The combination with a clothes pressing machine including a movablepresser head, a boiler supplying steam to the pressing machine, a watersupply device supplying water to the boiler, and means whereby at eachoperation of the movable presser head of the pressing machine'the watersu ply device is operated to supply water to t e oller.

5. The combination of a clothes pressing machine having a movable head,.a boiler supplying steam to the pressing machine, a

water supply device supplying water to the between the water supplydevice and movable member of the pressing machine whereby the watersupply device will'be operated throughout one portion of the movement ofsaid movable member, said member moving independent of the water supplydevice throughout the-other portion of its movement. I

7 Thecombination of a clothes pressing machine, including a movablemember, a boiler supplying steam to the pressing machine, a water supplydevice supplying water to the boiler, an-operating connection for thewater supply device having an elongated opening thereln, and a studcarried by the movable member and engaging in the recess withinwhich itmoves idly throughout the extent of the recess during the initialmovement of the said movable member and thereafter moves said connectionin unison therewith to actuate the water supply device.

8. The combination with a clothes pressing machine, including amovablemember, a boiler supplyingsteam to the pressing machine, a watersupply device supplying water to the boiler, andan actuating connectionbetween the water supply device and the movable member of the pressingmachine whereby the water supply device will be automatically operatedto supply a predetermined quantity of water to the boiler at eachoperation of the pressing machine;

9. Means for regulating the supply of feed water to the generatorsupplying steam to a clothes pressing machine comprising a feed watercontrol member, a water supply conduit leading therefrom to thegenerator. and an actuating connection between the feed water controlmember and the clothes pressing machine whereby the operation of saidmachine will operate the feed water con- .trol member to supply water tothe generator.

10. The combination with a clothes pressing machine, and a steamgenerator therefor of means for regulating the supply of feed water tothe generator which supplies steam to saidv pressing machine comprisinga feed water control member, a water supply conduit leading therefrom tothe generator, and

an intermittently operated actuating connection between the clothespressing machine and the feed water control member whereby the feedwater control member will be operated by the operation of the clothespressing machine throughout a portion of the movement of said pressingmachine, a portion of. the movement of said presslng machine beingaccomplished independent of the operation of the water control member.

11. The combination with a garment pressing machine having movableresser head, and a steam generator there or, of means for automaticallycontrolling the supply of feed water to the said steam generator,comprising a feed water control member, a water supply conduit leadingfrom the feed water control member to the steam generator,

